Mine to Fear (Mine #3)(46)
My eyelids flutter closed. His slightly scratchy cheek rubs against mine as he whispers in my ear, but the words no longer have meaning. The nearness of him is calming. Relaxing. The world goes dark.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Something smells familiar. Warm and comforting. But also kind of aggravating. Like I need to defend myself from a fight. From hostility. The mixture of feelings is so confusing. And I hurt. My stomach like it met brutal punishment. I must groan or make a noise because a male voice says, “You're fine now, I've got you.”
Instead of feeling fine, I feel riled up. I just can't remember or think of why. What happened?
Finally, I force my eyes open. Jack is cradling me on his lap. I jolt up. Or try to anyway, but I collapse back down with a grown as my head pounds and chest aches. “Ow.”
“Don't get up yet. You're still not fully recovered.”
As the memory of the fight, the memory of almost losing Nelly returns, I groan again. She may not like me, but I don't want to see her hurt. Of course, now I'm the one in pain. Those girls need to get better at casting spells.
He brushes his finger across my head. “Take it easy.”
“What happened after I blacked out?”
“We brought you here. Cynthia will return soon to assess how you’re progressing.”
“That doesn't explain why you're holding me.”
He looks away and surprises me by, instead of letting go, tightening his grip. “I was worried about you.”
“You were worried about me?” My pounding head makes it harder for the words to make sense. “In what world does that make any sense?”
“It doesn't.”
“At least we can be in agreement about something.” Even if it doesn't make sense, there's still something there. Something more than just pain. The way he's touching me, holding me close yet softly like he doesn't want to make my injuries worse. Something about it is undeniably right.
Cynthia clears her throat. “May I look at your injury?”
I realize Jack and I have been gazing at each other. I blush and look at her. “Go ahead. Is it serious?”
“No. I would have fully finished healing it already, but I don't have the full skill to know how.”
The spells she uses is soothing, cooling the irritated burn on my stomach.
Once she's finished healing me, she asks, “There are some people who would like to talk to you. Can I let them in, or would you like some more time to recover?”
“No. I'm fine now.”
Her eyes flicker to Jack, and I realize I'm still lying across his lap and in his arms. I try to sit up, but my stomach is still sore. He gently lifts me, though I'm uncertain how he manages without hurting me more, and places me on the bed.
“May I be of service in some way?” he asks.
Lands. This is really different. “Um…no, thank you. I'm well.”
“I'll leave you for your visitors, then.” And with that, he leaves the room.
Cynthia hurries over to me, adjusting the blankets around me. “What was that?”
“I was hoping you'd have some idea. Was he with me the entire time?”
She nods. “He was the one that brought you in. Refused to leave your side even while I healed you.”
“I knew we'd been less hostile toward each other lately, but this…” This is something more than I ever expected. Something nicer than expected.
Cynthia's tucking abruptly stops, and she sits on the bed next to me. “You like him.”
“I think I do.” And what dreadful timing for it. We're in a civil war.
There's the scrapping of someone walking toward our room.
“Several people have been anxious to see you. Must be one of them, but I can send them away if you're not ready?”
“No, it's fine.”
She nods, glances over me once to make sure I'm comfortable, and motions for the person to come in. Chadwick steps in.
Chadwick. Jack. Zade. The men in my life are becoming all too complicated.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chadwick, fortunately, doesn't stay long, only long enough to determine that I really am as well as Cynthia said I was. The entire time, I'm remembering how it felt to be held by Jack and trying not to feel guilty because of it. Chadwick knows there's nothing between us. But I know he still hopes that will change. That the path everyone in Envado thinks we are going to take is the one we are actually going to go down, to become engaged. I used to think it could be, but now?
After Chadwick's hurried departure, the next to come visit me leaves me feeling as if I got zapped by another cutting spell. Why can't I soften the guilt I have surrounding me?
There's another sound of someone walking to the small cavern. Cynthia rounds the corner, speaking softly. “What do you want?”
The reply is too quiet to hear.
“You will be nice or you will be forced to leave. She's healing.” She moves out of the way to reveal Nelly.
I may have saved her life, and wanted to do so, but I'm not sure I want to see her right now when I'm already in pain. It hurts enough physically. I don't need to hurt emotionally as well.